The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1887-07-01


Good and kind they were to strangers
there; her mother always baked waf-
tles and carried them with coffee to
the morning bedside of guest She
could see her native meadows stretch
ing away in the blue Northern air,
and the iron whip, rs her mother call
ed the scythe, beating up an appetite
in those who welded it, while she her
self, q careless little maid, came bear
ing the second breakfast to the
mowers.
A quavering but hearty voice. which
might have come from the mouth OF
her own grandmother if it had not be.
longed to Peter Lund's mother, sung
out Lapp- Finn nurse song by an up
per window, and Elsa knew just what
syllables the dancing baby was made
to emphasize.
''Donsn lupon,
Hopsom tup an,
Lanti Ira,
Hopsom stira:
Sprovt lupon, Upon,
Hopsom tup nn, tup an,
Lanti Ira, Ira,
Hopsom stira stira."
Dance and jump,
Hop like rooster.
Hop like the skatun.
Perhaps this very instant-for Elsa
made no calculations in longitude and
time-Vader's mutter danced the baby
under her home roof; and mono of her
people knew how faint, how outcast,
how bewilaered the eldest child felt
sitting on steps in @ strange Ameri-
kansk town.
In Elsa's box of clothing WAS the
finest sheepskin blanket her mother
ever made, so white in fleece, and
cured by buttering and scraping until
the skin yielded soft like chamois
leather. 1t was lined with scarlet
flannel. She could see the store-room
OF her fathers farmhouse hung thick.
ly with such feeces, and hear her
mother say she wished Elsa could
take more, since they had so little
money to send her. But Arne Sand
way, because he loved her SO. They
were children together, and he was
held as dear as q son in her own
family. Elsa's mothernever distrust-
ed him. How could it therefore be
possible that Arne Sandstrom, after
sending for his betrothed, could be
marrying q Swede Amerikann the
very evening OF her arrival?
In her intensely quiet fashion the
poor girl was wiping away tears MS
fast as they dropped down her cheeks,
and now she lifted her head from the
step, coming to decision.
She walked up on the veranda, her
feet sounding heavy and uncertain
and stood at the door ready to
knock. Her piteous great eyes moved
from wall to wall of the ample dining
room, recognizing Svensk wooden
spoons and beautifully painted and
polished Russian bowls in various
sizes on the sideboard. Hard baked
Syensk bread, so loved by the white
and firm Scandinavian teeth, and all
known luxuries, with unheard-
OF Amerikann things, smiled
at her from the glitter.
ing tables. This Lena Lund would be
called u mamzelle in Svadia; she was
very much above IL poor yungfrau like
Elsa. Any man might beglad to mar
ry her. Still Elsa would not believe
Arne sandstrom had forgotten his
betrothed.
She could see him from where she
stood, In an inner room with n back
ground of fine furniture. How beau-
tilul he looked, all in Amerikann
clothes, and with soft dark gloves on
his hands, like very rich mani His
cheek was ruddy, his forehead white,
and the very round OF his carlow
well Elsa remembered It! Arne Sand
strom was happy, and laughing aloud
with other people. She heard his
voice while she stood just without,
so wretched her whole soul seemed
numb.
In perfect silence she waited. and
still saw him laugh and extend his
hand to have it shaken by one anoth-
er, until figure came out of the room
where he was, to pass through the
dining-room, and she knew in an In
stant Otto Jutberg, who came to
America with Arne. Elsa put her foot
across the threshold and said, to call
his attention, "Otto."
Otto approached the door and
looked curiously at her. Onerope other
naxen hair hung down on her breast,
and she looked travel worn.
lotto Jutberg, want to see Arne
Sandstrom."
"Arne is going to be married in O.
leW iIiHutes, Sdiu oNIO.
81 know he is. But l want to see
Arne sandstrom, Tell him to come
here"
"Who is it?' pressed Otto, coming
nearer to her, and knitting his brows
inquirinyly.
Don't you know me, Otto, when
you have been to my fathers nearly
every st. Johns Eve OF our lives?"
Elsa felt that she needed only one
more drop to her cup, and that was
for some voice to raise the derisive
song with which her countrymen
Knocked Scowney's, or inhabitants OF
q region the butt OF all Svadia.
"a Scowen, Scowen"-
one bar was enough to rouse sudden
rage i'll any Svensk.
But instead of "a scowen, a Scow-
en-" rising around Esa's ears this en-
chanted night such din OF outcries
was made by Otto Jutberg that peo-
Pile ran to look in the dining-rcom,
and then to swarm around her.
Arne Sandstrom leaped two chairs
and seriously Jared one table, to re-
ceive Elsa in his arms, when he kissed
her openly.
Bring me one of the chairs kicked
over" he exclaimed, land let me set
the tired darling in it, ! have been
looking for the letter which would tell
me the time you intended to start.
Yes, this is my Elsa" he said, dis
playing her; land how did she find
her way in here alone? Mrs. Lund,
Elsa has comet"
"les, and she has been crying"
said the plump wife of Peter Lund,
pressing her hand. ut was enough
to break any child's heart to reach
such a journeys end homesick and
unwelcomed."
AT this Elsa leaned against the ma
irons side and shook with sudden
sobs, feeling her forehead and hair
petted Ly good mothers palms,
Elsa was taken up the back stair
way by both Mrs. Lund and Arne,
who talked rapidly across her. She
was put in beautiful room, and
young girls came in to get acquainted
with her and gggle. Arne asked her